DhaiKala dance. (Govinda dance)

The dance coming on the day next to Gokulastami is known as kala or dahikala or dahihandi when in imitation of the early life spent by Lord Krsna in the cowherd settlement at Gokul a handi containing curds milk etc. is ceremonially broken. The dancers or the so-called cowherd comrades of Srikrsna dressed in a mere loin-cloth and wielding clubs or lathis in their hands start in procession to visit different localities to break the handis that they may come across. They fall in a line more or less straight and are linked in a chain either by clasping palms or hooking arms with their neighbours. A khalu band [Consisting at least of three musicians to play on the sanai, the dhol and the timki.] provides the music. They dance the distance keeping the right foot forward and stepping with the same foot, while the left foot is dragged to make up the necessary space. The leader, and at times a few others occasionally whirl in the air the wooden clubs in their hands, singing out a marching song with the refrain' 'Govinda, ala re ala.' On arriving underneath a hanging handi, [An earthen pot hung in a temple or a prominent place at a respectable height generally beyond the reach of a man standing on the shoulder of another. It is decorated with a garland, and its usual contents are curds, milk, buttermilk, poha, turmeric, cocoanut, plantains and some coins.] the dancers form into a pyramidical formation of two or three tiers, a smart lad climbes the top tier grabs the handi, and breaks it. While the handi is being broken the whole formation is and has to be steady, but as soon as it is over, all climb down without order and the formation collapses. The participants place their arms on the shoulders of neighbours and slide and stamp their feet on the ground. Everyone tries to get under the water or buttermilk that is being poured over them and cries aloud 'Govinda, Govinda' making all types of frenzied and irregular movements in display of the kala or Govinda dance.